Aediles (Lat. Aedes, a building, temple), Roman magistrates charged with the supervision of public buildings, archives, streets, roads, aqueducts, markets, baths, eating houses, places of amusement, and public games; with the regulation of prices of provisions, and of weights and measures; with the sanitary superintendence, and various other functions of a similar character. The Aediles were originally of the plebeian order, and served as assistants to the tribunes of the people. Subsequently they became independent magistrates. In the earlier part of the 4th century B. C. two patrician Aediles were added, who enjoyed the double privilege of wearing the toga praetexta and sitting on curule chairs (Aediles curules). These privileges were soon after extended to their plebeian colleagues. In the latter periods of the republic the office of redile became an object of great ambition to wealthy politicians, who sought to win the favor of the multitude by lavish expenditures on the public games.